Born in Ferragudo, this outdoor project invites visitors to experience the Algarve the local way
– July 7, 2025
Located in Ferragudo, Bike & Water Flow is a conscious tourism company born from a passion for outdoor sports and the Algarve’s natural beauty.
But founders Daniela Medeira and Maísa Trindade, both locals with seemingly unrelated academic backgrounds (Pharmacy and Architecture, respectively) have built something that is more than a business.
The idea started taking shape in April 2021, during the lockdown months when many looked at outdoor experiences for relief. Already big lovers of sports and nature, Daniela and Maísa dusted off their own gear – including bicycles, surfboards, snorkelling masks, skateboards – and restored it all.
With time and dedication, they breathed new life into their equipment, and with it, an idea: to create curated, conscious outdoor experiences in the Algarve.
With no physical shop and limited resources, they kept the equipment in a garage and the company functioned exclusively through online bookings.
The two friends handled everything themselves, alongside their regular jobs, from maintaining equipment to building their website and handling customer communication.
Finally, in 2023, that humble garage was transformed into a fully-fledged shop built entirely by the two of them.
“It’s a real extension of the project’s soul,” expressed Daniela, recalling that they started with just one bike each and the stock gradually increased. Today they have a fleet of more than 40 electric and regular bikes, including models suited for mountain trails and gravel roads, all meticulously maintained and regularly updated.
Alongside the bikes, they also rent out electric scooters, surfboards, bodyboards, and snorkelling equipment, and offer kayak and Stand Up Paddle (SUP) tours.
Adding a unique twist to their lineup is skateboard hire. Although it isn’t their most popular service, it’s perfectly aligned with their ethos of movement and fun.
Daniela and Maísa restored their own of boards to start and now offer four distinctive styles: carver (or surfskate), longboard, cruiser and the classic old-school skateboard.
These boards are ideal for the skate parks of Silves, Lagos, Albufeira and Portimão or simply for gliding along the riverside walkways and beachfront promenades of Praia da Rocha, making it an engaging and playful way to explore the region, particularly for children enjoying their holidays.
With every bike and scooter rental, guests receive a helmet and lock as standard, along with access to over 20 carefully designed routes directly on their phones through some of the Algarve’s most captivating landscapes, including Ferragudo, Carvoeiro, Senhora da Rocha, Alvor, Portimão and Silves.
Each tour is adapted to customers’ preference, from the coastline to the countryside, through cliffs or hidden beaches, and to the needs of each booking.
As for water sports, before each outing, Daniela and Maísa analyse the sea and wind conditions, and advise clients on five emblematic sites, providing maps where caves, beaches, and other points of interest are marked.
The same level of care is applied to their private kayak and SUP tours, taking visitors through sheltered waters around Portimão and the Arade River. These tours, usually lasting two and a half hours, often include stops for snorkelling.
Back on land, of the most beloved aspects of their bike tours –available for those aged 14 and up due to the power of the e-bikes – is the mid-ride picnic. Perched on a scenic clifftop, guests take a break on the three-hour ride and enjoy coffee, tea, and traditional pastéis de nata (Portuguese egg custard tarts).
With the aim of helping visitors discover the Algarve “with all five senses”, Daniela and Maísa accompany many of the tours personally, acting not only as guides but as storytellers and cultural ambassadors – and even as photographers, something they happily do at no extra cost.
“We want every experience to be as special for those who choose us as it is for us to live it every day,” they shared. For that reason, they show their clients what they love most about the region. In Ferragudo, they cycle through picturesque streets and pass by the iconic São João do Arade Castle, and the Ponta do Altar Lighthouse. By water, the route goes through the village, the caves of Praia Grande, and Praia da Dona Infanta whilst in Carvoeiro, they cross coastal areas, exploring Algar Seco and viewpoints such as Praia do Paraíso, to provide “genuine, safe, special and memorable experiences, whether it’s a cave hidden in the cliffs, the breeze on your face when cycling in the village, or the comforting silence of paddling on the Arade River”.
Investing in their love for outdoor activities, Daniela and Maísa have both completed official instructor training with the Portuguese SUP Association, whilst Maísa has been certified as a surf instructor since 2012. They have also taken technical courses in Mechanics, ensuring that every piece of equipment meets their high standards.
“What we share is the fruit of real experience, continuous training, and a lot of dedication,” they say, emphasising that the focus is on “more conscious tourism, with less haste and more presence”.
Their connection to the beach, nature, and the area is reflected in the enthusiasm with which they welcome each client and carry out the tours. “We’ve always loved being by the sea, exploring trails, and enjoying everything this region has to offer.”
They aim to offer an alternative to mass tourism, where every route is recommended based on careful listening and observation, and where guests are welcomed as friends.
It’s not uncommon for a tour to conclude with personalised suggestions for local restaurants, secret swimming spots, or cultural highlights that never make it into guidebooks, fruit of their adventurous childhood spent discovering the Algarve’s secrets.
“We aim to create moments that reflect freedom and enable each person to choose the experience that best suits them. It’s about giving people the choice to experience the Algarve at their own pace, in an authentic and real way, whether by land or sea,” state founders of Bike & Water Flow.
Even though the business is already proving successful, their main goal is to dedicate themselves full-time to Bike & Water Flow, maintaining their signature spirit and expanding their offer in the future with gastronomy and art experiences.
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